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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

r. WHEATON;

MAIL-BAG; No. 297,326. Patented Apr. 22, 1884.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheetw 2.

P..WHEATON.

, MA IL BAG.

N0.,Z97,3Z6. Patented Apr. 22, 1884.

i Nita STATES FRANK WHEATON, on NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE W. CARTER, or SAME PLACE.

MAIL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,326, dated April 22, 188%.

Application filed February 12, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK WHEATON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bags; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to fastenings for mailbags; and its object is to dispense with the operation of threading or unthreading the fastening-strap every time such a bag is closed or opened.

In the accompanying drawings,wherein like letters represent like parts, Figure l is the front View of the upper part of a mail-bag provided with my fastening and closed; Fig. 2, a similar view with the bag unfastened; Fig. 3, a view of the button used in fastening; and Fig. 4, a front View of the bag, with part of the tiap thrown back to show the attach ment of the buttons to the exterior of the bag near its mouth.

A is a mail-bag,with flap B folding over and closing the mouth thereof. This flap is provided with a row of apertures, H H, which slip over the buttons or hooks E E, riveted to the front exterior surface of the bag. The strap 0 is provided with aperturesGG, correspond ing to those in the flap, which also slip over the buttons. The long slots 99 enable the strap 0 to be drawn to the right, so that the slot 0 may be passed over the staple F and padlocked, the bag then being secured along its entire month. Clamps D D, of leather or other suitable material, hold the strap 0 firmly to the flap B, while allowing the strap to slide freely.

To open the bag, it is only necessary to remove the padlock, slip the strap from the staple and pull it to the left, thus bringing the buttons and the apertures of strap and flap into correspondence. A tang, c, is attached to one end of the strap to keep the end from splitting, and to facilitate lacing when necessary. If desired, a stud can be placed upon the face of the strap near the slot 0, to prevent the strap being pulled through the clamps D D in the-process of opening the bag.

Having thus sufficiently described my invention. what I claim to be new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

In fastenings for mailbags, the combination consisting of the herein-described button, attached by its base to the front and exterior of the bag, near the mouth thereof, a flap eX- tending from the rear over the mouth and front of the bag, and provided with apertures adapted to pass over the head of the hereindescribed button, a strap sliding upon the front of the herein-described flap, and having corresponding apertures prolonged horizontally into slots adapted to receive the shank of said button. clamps crossed over the hereindescribed strap to hold the same against the flap, an ordinary staple at one end of the herein-mentioned flap, upon which the sliding strap may be padlocked, with the aid of a slot cut in said strap, when the bag is closed, all as hereinbefore described, and for the purposes setforth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature i presence of two witnesses.

FRANK \VHEATON.

Witnesses:

GEO. F. KI'roHELL, O. W. BEALS. 

